Apparatus for rope pulling isometric and isotonic exercises



L. R. WADE April 14, 1970 APPARATUS FOR ROPE PULLING ISOMETRIC AND ISOTONIC EXERCISES I Filed Aug. 17, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.5

FIG.8

INVENTOR. Lou/s R. Mos

April 14, 1970 L. R. WADE 3,506,262

APPARATUS FOR ROPE PULLING ISOMETRIC AND ISOTONIC EXERCISES Filed Aug. 17, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 92 94 FIG. I5

INVENTOR. Lou/.5 R. "/4052 A 7- TORNEY United States Patent 3,506,262 APPARATUS FOR ROPE PULLING ISOMETRIC AND ISOTONIC EXERCISES Louis R. Wade, 2724 N. Bristol, Apt. I-4, Santa Ana, Calif. 92706 Filed Aug. 17, 1967 Ser. No. 661,370 Int. Cl. A63b 21/00 U.S. Cl. 272-79 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drum rotatably mounted on a frame, which drum has means near the center of its exterior surface receiving a center portion of a rope and constraining that center portion to cause the rope to be wound around said drum as the drum is rotated relative to the end sections of the rope, and said frame having a pair of guides which lead the ends of the center portion of the rope away from the drum at substantially a right angle to the rotation axis of the drum so that the rope will be wound upon or unwound from the drum depending upon the direc tion in which the drum is rotated, and a locking mechanism for selectively locking the drum relative to the frame.

This invention relates to devices used in isometric and isotonic exercises, and more particularly to such a device including a rope which is pulled for isotonic exercise, and the device has provision for rapidly changing the amount of pull necessary to move the rope relative to the balance of the device.

Briefly, embodiments of the invention include friction brake means, e.g., a friction drum, having a generally smooth exterior surface, rotatably mounted on a frame. Further, there is made provision for constraining a bight portion of a rope so that the bight portion may be wound around the friction drum as the drum is rotated relative to the frame. Further, there are a pair of guides which guide the rope away from the friction drum at approximately a right angle whereby the rope may be unwrapped from the friction drum by pulling on both ends of the rope and the rope will not be twisted. With this apparatus, the frame is anchored to some stationary object, e.g., a short board on which the operator stands. Then, the person will take hold of a pull bar which is connected to one end of the rope, and also the tail section of the rope in, for example, his right hand. Then, holding the tail section of the rope and the pull bar in that hand, he will pull as hard as possible doing an isometric exercise. After a desired number of seconds, he will slowly loosen his grip on the tail section of the rope so that at some point the pull on the pull bar can overcome the friction between the rope and the friction drum and the pulling force on the tail section. At this point, the person can perform a slow isotonic exercise.

During the isotonic exercise, the section of rope with the pull handle on it is extended and the tail section is shortened. Therefore, it becomes necessary to return the rope to the original condition with the end having the pull handle on it being shorter than the tail section. In order to reduce the forces on the tail section needed to return the rope to the original position, means are provided for quickly unwrapping the turns of the rope from the friction drum without producing any twisting of the rope. Then, the rope can be easily returned to the original position. At that point, the friction drum is again rotated to the position where the rope has the desired number of turns on it, at which point the exercise process is repeated.

The idea of using a rope wound around a shaft in exercising have been suggested before, as illustrated in US. Patent No. 3,197,204. .However, in such devices, there is the disadvantage that the free ends of the rope are twisted as the rope is wrapped upon or unwrapped from the friction brake. Additionally, in those devices, there is the problem that the operator cannot determine how many turns there are on the friction drum, as the drum is enclosed. Additionally, such devices have an inefficient system for selectively keying the two major parts of the unit together.

With the foregoing in mind, it is -a major object of this invention to provide an improved exercise device for use in isometric and isotonic exercises.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercise device with a friction brake rotatably mounted thereon, with provision of means for rapidly wrapping or unwrapping a rope around the friction brake without twisting the rope.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved exercise device which may be economically manufactured and easily stored.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an exercise device including a rotatably mounted friction drum having a rope selectively wound therearound with the turns of the rope on the drum easily seen.

A further object of this invention is to provide an exercise device including a rotatably mounted friction drum having a rope wound therearound and including an improved means for selectively locking that rotatable friction drum relative to the frame of the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an exercise device wherein a rope is wound around a friction drum which may be easily adjusted to the desired number of turns.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent in the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism, taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the locking device taken along line 3-3 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the brake drum of the device in FIGURE 1 as taken along line 4-4 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the guides of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE 1;;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism of the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing another form of the friction drum of the device;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, disclosing another alternative manner of operatively connecting the rope to the friction drum;

FIGURE 10 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention having a different type frame;

FIGURE 11 is an end view of the device disclosed in FIGURE 10:

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view disclosing the manner of connecting the left support of the device shown in FIGURE 10 to the axle of the device; and,

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 5 in particular, the

first preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The device includes a generally U- shaped frame, indicated generally by the arrow 10, having a pair of legs, or side supports, 12 and 13 which are joined together at one end by a curved joinder portion 14.

For use, the device is anchored to any one of a number of stationary objects. For example, it can be anchored to a hook on the wall. Alternatively, the device could be secured to a hook placed in a short board on which the individual would stand. In either such event, means would be provided for such securing purposes. For this purpose in the first embodiment, there can be provided a belt 15 secured to the curved joinder portion 14.

As mentioned previously, it is desired that there be a friction brake means carried on the frame on which a rope is wound so that the friction between the rope and the brake means can be used during the isotonic por tion of the exercise. In the first embodiment, such brake means take the form of a friction drum 18 rotatable on an axle 19 extending through the legs 12 and 13 near the middle of the length of the legs.

At the right end (as seen in FIGURE 1) of the drum 18 there are located a plurality of holes 20 for a purpose to be described. (See FIGURE 4 in particular.)

It is desired that the operator can selectively lock the drum 18 relative to the frame at any one of several positions. Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 3, the means for locking the drum 1-8 will be described in further detail. The right-hand leg 13 has a boss 22 through which is received a slidably mounted pin 21 at a position where the holes 20 may be selectively aligned with and receive the pin. The pin 21 carries a cap 23 which is held between a head 24 on the pin 21 and a snap ring 25 received in a groove in the pin. The cap 23 is further defined by a cylindrical skirt 26 extending toward the leg 13, which skirt has an elongated slot 27 therethrough for receiving therethrough an upstanding bolt 28. For

the purpose of holding the cap 23 in any selected position relative to the boss 22, there is provided a flat spring member 29 which is held in a flexed position between the boss and the skirt 26 as best seen in FIGURE 2. With this arrangement, the cooperation of the bolt 28 and the ends of the slot 27 functions to limit the right and left movement of the cap 23 while the spring 29 holds the cap in the selected position. The slot 27 is of suflicient length that the cap 23 may be moved to the left (as seen in FIGURES l and 3) to a first position where the pin 21 is received in one of the holes 20, and may be moved to the right (as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3) to a second position where the pin 21 is out of engagement with the drum 1 8.

As can be seen, the friction forces of the spring member 29 function so that the operator does not have to hold the cap 23 in the above mentioned second position. This is important as will be described further below.

In order to cause a rope to be wrapped around the friction drum as the latter is being rotated, and thereby operatively connect the rope to the drum, there is provided a ring 30 extending outward from the exterior surface of the drum. This ring 30 receives therethrough a rope 35 at the ropes center section 36 with a pull end, or section, 37 on one end, to which is connected a pull bar 38. On the other end of the rope 35 there is a tail end, or section, 39'.

It is important that the pull end 37 and the tail end 39 extend away from the drum 18 at approximately a right angle to the drum in order that, as the rope 35 is unwound from the drum, the said ends of the rope will not be twisted. To this end, there is provided a .4 guide ring 42 on the free end of the leg 12 and a guide ring 43 on the free end of the leg 13, each of which guide rings receives therethrough a respective end of the rope 35.

In use, the cap 23 would be moved to the second position where the pin, or pawl, 21 is out of engagement with the drum 18. At that time, the drum 18 would be rotated to unwind the rope 35 from the drum by pulling on both ends 37 and 39 of the rope. It should be noted that the ring 30 keeps the rope 35 in position ready to be rewound on the drum 1 8. Then, the tail end 39 is pulled to where the pull bar 38 is at the starting position in relation to the frame 10. Then, the operator rotates the drum 18, thus winding the rope 35 around the drum as shown in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that the ring 30 constrains the center section 36 of the bight of the rope to cause the rope 35 to be wound around the drum 18 the desired number of turns. The operator then urges the cap 23 to the left (as seen in FIGURE 1) and rotates the drum 18 slightly to index a hole 20 with the pin 21 and the latter is received into the particular hole, thus locking the drum.

At this point, the operator will grasp the pull bar 38, in, for example, his right hand and will also hold the tail end 39 by, for example, gripping it between his hand the pull bar 38. At that time, the person will perform the isometric portion of the exercise. Then, he Will release the pressure on the tail end 39 a desired amount so that the rope will start slipping around the surface of the drum 18. The amount of force which is necessary on the pull bar is dependent upon the number of turns of the rope center section 36 around the drum 1'8 and the amount of force on the tail end 39 of the rope 35. After the isotonic portion of the exercise is complete, the process is repeated.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7 the second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In this embodiment, there is provided a frame, indicated generally by the arrow 45, having a shape which may be described as a U-shape or C-shape. The frame 45 has an upper leg 46 and a lower leg 47 with a web, or joinder portion, 48 therebetween. For purposes of anchoring the device there is provided an attachment ring 49 on the upper leg 46 to receive a ring or a hook or a belt such as belt 15. Extending between the legs 46 and 47 is a friction drum 50 rotatably mounted on an axle 51 received in said legs. The drum 50 is further characterized by a ring 52- secured to the exterior surface of the drum for the same purpose as the ring 30. Additionally, it will be noted that there are a series of teeth 53 formed on the lower end of the drum.

For purposes of selectively locking the drum 50 in the desired position, there is provided a pin 54 extending vertically through a boss 55 on the leg 47. This pin 54 has a pawl 56 at its upper end and is resiliently urged upwardly by a spring 57. At the lower end of the pin 54 there is provided a ring 58 which has an enlarged portion 59 (see FIGURE 6) received into a cross section in the boss 55. With this arrangement, the ring 58 may be grasped and pulled downwardly, pulling the pawl 56 out of engagement with the teeth 53. Then, the ring 58 can be rotated 90 whereupon engagement of the enlarged portion 59 with the boss 55 will hold the pawl 56 against the force of the spring 57 out of engagement with the teeth 53.

Also provided is a rope 61 having a center section 62 wrapped around the drum 50 several times with a pull end 63 extending downward from the frame 45 to a point where a pull bar 64 is connected. The rope 61 also has a tail end 65 extending from the frame 45 in the same direction as the pull end 63. For purposes of guiding the rope 61 away from the drum at substantially a right angle initially, there is provided a first guide hole 66 through which can pass the pull end section 63 of the rope 61. Additionally, toward the upper end of the frame 45 there is provided a second guide hole 67 and at the lower end of the joinder portion 48 a third guide hole 68. Thereby, the tail end section 65 of the rope 61 may extend away from the drum 50 initially at substantially a right angle to the axis of the drum and through the guide hole 67 and thence through the guide hole 68.

The use of the second embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as the first embodiment. The ring 58 is pulled downward and rotated 90 as previously described. At this time, the operator pulls on both ends 63 and 65 of the rope, causing the drum 50 to be rotated and unwinding the rope. It will be noted that with the use of the ring 52 there is no danger of the rope 61 being completely disengaged from the drum. At that time, the tail end 65 is pulled until the pull bar 64 is in the starting position. Then, the ring 58 is rotated back to its original position where the enlargement 59 is aligned with the cross slot 60 and spring 57 urges the pawl 56 into engagement with one of the teeth 53. Then, the operator will rotate the drum 50 until the desired number of turns of rope are on the drum.

It should be understood that other means can be used to constrain the bight of the rope to permit the desired winding of the rope around the friction drum. Also, the friction brake need not be a drum in order to accomplish to accomplish the desired friction effect. For example, in FIGURE 8 there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the friction brake, or drum, is comprised of a pair of rods 70 and 71 which are spaced apart and held in that position by a pair of end plates 72. The end plate on the near end is not shown in FIGURE 8. It is to be understood that the end plates will be rotatmounted on a frame such as frame or frame 45. A rope 73 is then wound around and between the rods 70 and 71 as disclosed in FIGURE 8. With this arrangement, the friction between the rope 73 and the rods 70 and 71 can be increased by rotating the end plates 72 counterclockwise (as seen in FIGURE 8). The frictional forces are decreased by rotating the end plates 72 clockwise (as seen in FIGURE 8).

In FIGURE 9 there is disclosed another alternative manner of constraining the bight of a rope to the mechanism. In this case, there is provided a friction brake, or drum, 74 having a hole 75 through the center thereof at approximately a right angle to the axis of the drum. It will be noted that the ends of the hole 75 are chamfered as at 76. Then, a rope 77 is extended through the hole 75 as disclosed in FIGURE 9. With this arrangement, rotation of the drum 74 counterclockwise (as seen in FIG- URE 9) will increase the number of turns of rope in engagement with the drum 74 and clockwise rotation (as seen in FIGURE 9) will decrease the number of turns and therefore the amount of friction between the rope and the drum.

It should be understood that the alternate forms of the friction means shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 can be used in any of the preferred embodiments of the present invention instead of the particular friction drum shown in FIGURES 1, 6, and 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 10' through 13, the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in FIGURES l and 6, the frame of the device has a generally U-shape, or C-shape. However, in the device shown in FIGURES 10 to 13, the frame of the device is formed in a somewhat different manner.

The device shown in FIGURES 10 to 13 is particularly adapted to be used in situations where two points of support are permitted. By way of example, the device is shown suspended from an exercise bar 78. There it can be seen that the device includes a frame, indicated generally by the arrow 79. However, this device difliers from the previous devices in that the frame 79 includes a left support 80 and a right support 81 which are joined together by an axle 82 which may 'be a shoulder. Referring now to FIGURE 13, in particular, it can be seen that there is provided a shoulder 83 at the right end of the axle 82 with a threaded stub shaft 84 extending through the support 81 so that nut 85 can secure the righthand support to the axle. Referring to FIGURE 12 in particular, it can be seen that the axle 82 extends through the left support has a head received in a recess 86 in the left support. For purposes of tightening the assembly, the head 85' is formed to receive an Allen wrench while the nut 85 is being tightened.

At the upper ends of the left and right supports 80 and 81, respectively, there are provided attachment rings 89, each of which receives a cable, or belt, 90 secured around exercise bar 78.

As in the case of drum 18, there is provided a friction drum 92 rotatably mounted on the axle 82. This drum 92 has a ring 93 on the surface thereof for the same purpose as the ring 30.

For the purpose of locking the drum 92 in the desired position, there are provided locking means which, by way of example, are the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, there is provided a boss 94on the right side of the right support 81, which boss receives therethrough a slidably mounted pin 95. The pin 95 carries a cap 96 having a skirt 97 thereon with a slot (not shown) therein which is comparable to the slot 27. Also, a spring member (not shown) like the spring member 29 is provided for insuring a proper amount of friction holding the pin 95 against movement as in the base of the first embodiment. With this arrangement, an upstanding bolt 98 (directly comparable with the bolt 28 in the first embodiment) functions to limit the movement of the cap 96. Additionally, there is provided a series of holes 99 in the right end (as seen in FIGURE 10) of the drum 92. These holes 99 are directly comparable to the holes 20 in the first embodiment of the present invention. With the arrangement described, the cap 96 may be moved to the left so that the pin 95 is received in one of the holes 99, and alternatively, the cap 96 may be moved to the right where the pin is out of engagement with the drum 92.

As in the case of the first embodiment, there is provided a rope 100 having a center section 101 wrapped around the drum 92 and extending through the ring 93. The rope 100 has a pull end 102 having a pull bar 103 secured thereto. The rope 100 also has a tail end 104 as in the prior embodiments.

For the purpose of guiding the rope 100 away from the drum 92 at substantially a right angle thereto, there is provided a guide ring 106 on the lower end of the right support 81 and a guide ring 107 on the lower end of the left support 80.

The use of the device is substantially the same as in the previously described embodiment. More particularly, the cap 96 is moved to the right (as seen in FIGURE 10) where the pin 95 is out of engagement with the drum 92. Then, both ends 102 and 104 of the rope 100 are pulled so that the rope center section 101 is unwound from the drum 92. At that point, the tail end 104 of the rope 100 is pulled until the pull bar 103 is returned to the starting position. At that time, the person rotates the drum 92 until the rope center section 101 is wound the desired number of times around the drum 92. Then, the operator will urge the cap 96 to the left and rotate the drum slightly until the pin 95 is received in a particular hole 99. Then, the exercise process is done as previously described.

It should be noted that, since the locking means is mounted on the same support that guides the pull end 102 of the rope 100, i.e., the right support 81, the drum 92 will not be rotated during the exercise cycle. This is because the primary force on the rope 100 is on the pull end 102 and the guide ring 106 constrains the right support 81 so long as there is tension on the pull end of the 7 rope. And, as can be seen, the pin 95 constrains the drum 92 to the right support 81.

Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such is by way of illustration only and numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim: 1. An exercise device in combination with a length of rope having first and second end sections joined by a center section, said device comprising:

a frame; friction brake means having a generally cylindrical friction surface, said friction brake means being rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis;

said friction brake means having bight constraining means near the center of its exterior surface engaging and constraining the center section of the rope to cause the rope to be wound around the friction surface as the brake means is rotated relative to the end sections of the rope, the center section of said rope wrapped around said friction surface such that pull on the two ends of said rope will cause said friction brake means to rotate in a first direction about said axis to unwrap the rope, said rope center section engaging said friction surface whereby resistance of said friction surface with said rope resists a pull on one end of said rope;

first and second guides on said frame positioned so as to guide said rope away from said brake means at substantially a right angle to said axis, said rope first end section extending from said brake means at a right angle to said axis and through said first guide, said rope second end section extending from said brake means at a right angle to said axis and through said second guide;

and locking means on said frame and said brake means,

and including an element movable between a first position Where it engages and locks said brake means against movement in said first direction about said axis and a second position where it does not engage said brake means and does not so lock said friction brake means.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said friction brake means includes:

a drum having a smooth exterior surface;

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said bight constraining means includes 21 holes through said brake means receiving therethrough said rope at substantially a right angle to the axis of rotation of the brake means.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said bight constraining means includes a ring portion secured to the exterior of said brake means with a hole in the center of the ring portion receiving therethrough said rope.

5. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said friction brake means includes a drum;

said locking means includes a plurality of teeth secured for rotation with said drum; and

said movable element is:

a pawl movable between a first position where it engages said teeth and a second position where it does not engage said teeth; and

resilient means resiliently urging said pawl toward said first position.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein: said frame is a generally U-shaped member having two substantially straight legs each having a free end and being joined together at the other end by a curved portion; said friction brake means includes a drum rotatably mounted on an axle which extends between said legs of the frame at a point intermediate the free ends of the legs and the said other ends of the legs; and guides are small rings, one mounted on the free end of each leg, each of said rings being adapted to receive therethrough the rope extending from the surface of said drum; and means are provided connected to said joinder portion for anchoring the exercise device to a stationary object.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable element is:

a pin slidably mounted on said frame;

a boss on said frame through which said pin is received;

a cap carried by said pin for movement therewith;

a cylindrical skirt on said cap received around said boss; and spring member located between said boss and said skirt, said spring member being flexed such that its resiliency urges it against the boss and the skirt to resist by friction movement of the cap relative to the boss.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises:

first and second spaced supports;

a joinder portion joining together said first and second supports; and

said friction brake means is rotatably mounted on said joinder portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 389,682 3/1933 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner 

